Feed control for flying shear



NOV. 20, 1934. F c BIGGERT, JR 1,981,382

FEED CONTROL FOR FLYING SHEAR Filed Sept. 6, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 'QOOOGOQOO INVENTOR wrmcsszs C Nov. 20, 1934. c, BIGGER-r, JR 1,981,382

FEED CONTROL FOR FLYING SHEAR Filed Sept. 6, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 6 26 62 66 3 M11252 J4 INVENTOR 4/510, @4- 10. 54W fi fl/ 27 f 6064a WYM Patented Nov. 20, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application September 6, 1933, Serial No. 688,322

14 Claims.

a piece of material being fed at random to a.

flying shear is out of step with the shear blades, and also for controlling the operation of the feeding mechanism used with the shear so as to synchronize the entrance of the stock in the shear with the movement of the shear blades.

These and various other objects, as well as the 2 various other novel features and advantages of the invention will be apparent when the following detailed description is. read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a control system embodying the invention; Fig. 2 a plan view of a shear and feed table of the nature indicated in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a sectional view of a stock-responsive controller constructed in accordance'with the invention; Fig. 4 a view similar to Fig. 1 of the controller illustrated in Fig. 3 but showing one of its radially movable pins engaging a piece of stock; and Fig. 5 a sectional view taken on line V--V of Fig. 3.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a flying shear which may be any type of shear although shown as a rotary type comprising a pair of drum-like blade carrlers 2 and 3 on each of which a plurality of axially disposed cutting blades 4, 5 and 6 is mounted. For operating such shear, a driving motor 8 is connected to it through a suitable gear reducing unit 7 and for delivering stock to .it to be severed a roll table 9 is provided, although any other type of feeding apparatus such as pinch rolls or the like may be used for such purpose.

As illustrated, this feed table is divided in two separate sections 11 and 12 for a purpose which will presently appear, and these equipped with separate driving motors l3 and 14, respectively, Under normal conditions both of these motors are driven at a constant uniform speed to deliver the stock to the shear at a speed corresponding with the shear so as to produce the length of cuts desired. Customarily, the stock to be severed is delivered. at random to the feed table and as a result it is necessary to either control the entry of the stock in the shear, or modify the operation of the shear in order to control the length of the first out.

In accordance with this invention the first cuts are controlled by controlling the operation of the forward section 12 of the roll table. To ac-' complish this, a variable speed motor 14 is pro-- vided for driving said section of the table, and while any suitable variable speed motor may be used for such purpose, a direct current motor of the variable field type such as illustrated is preferred. As shown the field windings 14a of this motor are connected to a source of current supply represented by the line conductors L1 and L2, in series circuit relation with a plurality of different sized resistors 15, 16 and 17 which are utilized to vary its speed.

For normally shunting these resistors out of the field circuit, a pluralityzof normally closed magnetic contactors 18, 19 and 21 is provided being connected in shunting circuits 22, 23 and 24, connected across such resistors. To in turn provide for controlling the operation of the contactors so as to produce the modification of roll table operation required to get the stock in step with the shears so as to control the length of the first cuts, a controller 25 is arranged in the roll table section 12 to be contacted by the stock as it is delivered to the shear.

This controller, as best illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, comprises a pair of hollow rolls 26 and 2'7 which are suitably mounted for rotation one above the other in the roll table, and connected as indicated in Fig. 2 to be driven in synchronism with the shear. As shown in thislatter figure, they are operably connected through a gear reduction unit 28 to a synchronous motor 29 which is electrically coupled by conductors 31 to a synchronous generator 32 mounted on the drive shaft of the shear motor 8. Hence, they are driven in positive synchronism with the shear.

The lower roll 27 of the controller is used merely to hold the stock adjacent the upper roll when it is passed through the controller and, as

another. In the center of such roll there is mounted for radial reciprocation about its periphery, a plurality of uniformly spaced pins 33, 34, 35 and 36. Normally when the roll is run- 6 ning, these pins are maintained due to centrifugal force with their outer ends projecting beyond the surface of the rolls, being limited in the distance they project outwardly by a flanged head 37 provided on their inner ends to engage the inner face of an annular rib 38 in the roll in which they-are mounted. When in this outer position, if there is no stock in the controller, such pins are adapted to move in a groove '39 provided in the surface of the lower roll 27 as the two rolls rotate. When a piece of stock enters the controller as shown in Fig. 4, the pins engage it in sequence and are thereby forced into the center of the roll.

To utilize this movement of the pins 33, 34, 35 and 36 for controlling the entry of the stock in the shear, an annular groove41 is provided near the inner end of each pin, and a plurality of circuit-controlling cross-shaped latches 42, 43, 44 and 45, respectively, is mounted adjacent them for selective operation by engagement with these grooves. These latches are all pivotally attached at the inner ends of their radially disposed cross arms opposite the pins to a disk 46 which is keyed to an axially movable shaft 4'7 supported in suitable bearings 48 mounted in the roll 26. To normally resiliently project the inner ends of the axially disposed cross arms of such latches into the grooves 41 in the pins to be operated thereby, a spring 49 is mounted under compression on the latch disk supporting shaft 47 with its ends bearing against the outer shaftv bearing 48 and a collar 51-keyed to the -shaft 4'1 on the opposite side of the inner bearing -48 to the disk 46, such collar being arranged to limit the inward movement of the shaft 47 and normally hold the latches in their proper pinengaging positions.

Between the outer ends of the radially disposed cross arms of the latches 42, 43, 44 and 45 and the pins 33, 34, 35 and 36, a shoulder 52 is provided in the roll 26 to be-engaged by the outer ends of said cross arms when the pins and latches are moved inwardly by engagement with a piece of stock. By reason'of such arrangement only the first pin to be engaged by the stock as it enters the controller will actuate its associated latch. This is due to the fact, as shown in Fig. 4, that the outer end of the radially disposed cross arm of such latch engages the shoulder 52 and forces the disk 46 on which the latches are mounted inwardly against the tension of the spring 49 on the disk supporting shaft 47 suificiently to move the inner ends of the axially disposed cross arms of the other latches completely out of the opening in which the pins associated with them move.

On the outer ends of each of the axially disposed cross arms of the latches 42, 43, 44 and 45, there are provided suitably insulated current conducting contact points. 54. Cooperating with these are four similar contact points 55, 56, 5'7 and 58, respectively, mounted on suitable supports 55a, 56a, 57a and 58a attached to the inner face of the inner disk shaft supporting bearing 48 and s0 spaced from the latches that they will ,make contact with the contact points on the latches only when the latches are tilted by their associated pins when the latter are forced inwardly by engagement with the stock. To insure against such contact being made at any other time, and for also preventing any vibration of the latches, tension springs 59 are connected between the outer ends of the axially disposed cross arms of each of the latches-and a hub 61 provided on the latch supporting disk 46.

As illustrated best in Fig. 5, the contact points 54 mounted on the latches 42, 43, 44 and 45 are all connected together by a common conductor 62 which is connected by a conductor 63 to a suitably insulated slip ring 64 mounted on an extension of the neck 65 of the roll 26. This slip ring in turn is connected by a suitably supported brush and conductor 66 to one of the line conductors L2. In a similar fashion the stationary contact points 55, 56 and 5'7 associated with the latches 42, 43 and 44 are connected by conductors 67, 68 and 69 with three slip rings '71, '72 and '73 also mounted on the roll neck 65. These in turn are connected by suitably supported brushes and conductors 91, 92 and 93, respectively, to line conductors L2 through the actuating coils 18a, 19a. and 21a of the magnetic contactors 18, 19 and 21 which control the operation of the resistors 15, 16 and 17 and the normally closed bridging member 740 of a time delay relay 74.

In order to hold the pins 33, 34, 35 and 36 in their circuit making positions once they. are forced in by the stock until the stock has its deliv'ery properly corrected so'that it will enter the shear in the proper manner to give the length of the first cut desired, and to also prevent any of the pins hitting the stock more than once while it is passing through the controller, an electromagnet 81 is mounted in the roll 26 adjacent the pins on the Opposite side thereof to the latches, and is provided with a core 81a which is extended to a point opposite the ends of the pins and a winding 81b. This windingis connected to the line conductors L1 and L2 by means of a pair of slip rings mounted on the neck 82 of the roll 26, and a circuit 83, in which a time delay'relay 84 is provided. When energized, which it is as soon as the stock causes the relay 84 to close, the magnet has sufficient strength to hold the pins 33, 34, 35 and 36 inwardly in contact with its coil 81 against the centrifugal force of rotation although insufficient strength to pull them against it when in their outer position. Consequently, when the relay 84 opens the pins will return to their outer stock-responsive position. This relay 84 which is of the magnetic type, is controlled by a flag switch 85 that is mounted in front of the controller, the relay having on it a coil 84a which is connected directly to the current supply and a second coil 84b which is also connected to said supply but in circuit relation with the flag switch 85. In operation, as soon as the flag switch closes, the relay closes, but when the flag switch opens the relay does not open until the magnetism built up by coil 84b is dissipated, and

in practice this is made long enough so that the roll 27 at the same instant the cutting blades of the shear move into cutting opposition with each other. Consequently, if this pin is the first to engage the leading end of a piece of stock as it moves through the controller, no correction to the stock delivery will be required as under these ci cumstances the end of the stock will be as near in synchronism with the shear as can be obtained. If the next succeeding pin 33 is the first to strike the stock, however, unless the stock delivery is corrected before the stock reaches the shear, the first cut will have an excess crop equal to at least three-fourths of the distance between the knives, and if pins 34 or 35 are the first to hit the stock, the length of the first out, without the delivery of the stock being corrected, will be one-half or one-fourth the length, respectively, of the regular out.

With the foregoing in mind, the value of the resistance included in the resistors 15, 16 and 17, respectively, associated with the pins 33, 34 and 35, is so proportioned that they will speed up the operation of the forward section 12 of the feed table operated by the motor 14 enough during the time they are permitted to remain in the field circuit 20 of such motor by the time delay relay 74, which is used for such purpose, to get the forward end of the stock in step with the shear independently of which pin is the first to be hit by the stock. As illustrated, this time delay relay 74 is one of the residual magnetism delay type having two opposed coils 74a and 74b connected in parallel by circuits 75 and 76 to the line conductors L1 and L2, one of such coils 74a being adapted to normally hold the relay closed and the other 74b to normally urge it to its circuit opening position. The former of these coils is provided with a shunt circuit 77 which is adapted to be closed by each of the resistor controlling magnetic contactors 18, 19 and 21, such contactors being provided with normally open back contact members 180, 19c and 210 for this purpose, which close when their primary contact members 18b, 19b and 21b are opened to place the resistors 15, 16 and 17 in the field circuit 20 of the feed table motor. With the shunting of this coil 74a, the magnetic field produced thereby is permitted to gradually collapse, consequently permitting the lower coil 74?) to open the relay after a short period which may be varied by varying the characteristics of the relay in a well known manner which needs no description. It will also be appreciated that any other suitable type of time delay device may be used to perform the functions of this relay.

By way of describing the operation of the invention, assume that the shear and the controller which is driven in synchronism therewith are being operated at a constant .uniform speed, and that a piece of stock 10 is being delivered at random on the forward section 12 of the roll table. As soon as its leading end hits the flag switch 85, the pin holding magnet 81 in the controller will be energized due to the resultant closing of the relay 84.- On entering the controller if the pin 36 is the first to hit it, the speed of the feed table will not be altered as described above as it will then be in step with the shear. However, if one of the other pins is the first to strike it, and let us assume that it is pin 33, the following circuits will be established. With the operation of latch 42 the contact point 54 thereon will engage the fixed contact point 55. When these points are forced together, a circuit is established which may be traced from line conductor L2 through conductor 66, slip ring 64, conductor 63, contact point 54 on the latch 42, contact point 55, conductor 67, slip ring 71, con ductor 91, the actuating coil 18a of contactor 18, conductor 90 and bridging member of time delay relay 74 to line conductor L1. With the closing of this circuit, the contactor 18 is opened placupper coil 74a of the time delay relay 74, which thereby causes this relay to open after the resistor 15 has been in the field circuit 20 of the table -motor 14 long enough for such motor to advance the stock an amount in excess of what it normally would, which is sufficient to get it in step with the shear. With the opening of the relay 74, the circuit through the controller and the coil 18a. is broken, and the contactor falls closed taking the resistor 15 out of the field circuit of the table motor. After this takes place the controller continues to run idle until the trailing end of the stock passes over the flag switch 85 which then opens to deenergize the windings 81b of the pin magnet 81, allowing the pins to fly out in readiness to operate on the next piece of stock to be delivered to the shear.

In order for the system to operate properly, and to do so in such a way that it will not interfere with the regular cuts produced by the shear, the controller 25 is, of course, spaced sufficiently far enough away from the shear for the feeding means to have time to correct the delivery of the stock before it enters the shear. This, of course, also requires a sufficiently long feed table to accomplish the end desired, and in order that a subsequent piece of stock may be started on its way to the shear before a previous one is completely through it, the section 11 of the feed table is always driven at a contant speed so that variation in speed of the forward section 12 will already in the shear.

Among the advantages of this invention is the provision of simple, easily installed means for controlling the length of the first cuts which a shear will make on pieces of stock fed to it at random, such being adapted to limit the waste of such cuts to a minimum. As will be appreciated by those skilled in this art, in accordance with the invention, the maximum amount which the length of the first cut will depart from the length desired is an amount equal to the spacing of the pins on the controller, and this can be reduced to a minimum by increasing to a maximum the number of pins employed. It will also be understood that while the controller has been described as having a circumference equal to the distance between the shear blades, it may have a circumference differing therefrom providing it is driven at a speed which will compensate for the difference which its circumference differs from the distance between the shear blades, or it may have a circumference equal to any multiple of this distance, providing the pins mounted on it are divided into groups corresponding to the distance between the shear blades, and connected in parallel to the control circuits regulated by them. It will further be readily appreciated instead of accelerating or retarding the speed of the feed table or feeding means the change in relative position of the end of stock may be accomplished by a looper, in which case each of the several cirstock responsive pins corresponding to those described in detail hereinbefore.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle and mode of operation of my invention, and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim: 1. In combination with a flying shear or like work device, means for feeding web thereinto, means for varying the speed of said feeding means to control the length of the first cut, and

means driven in synchronism with said shear and disposed to be rendered operable by the web entering the shear for controlling the operation of said speed-varying means to synchronize the entrance of the leading end of the web into the-shear with its cutting elements.

2. In combination with a flying shear or like work, device, means for driving said shear at a constant speed, means for normally feeding web into said shear at a constant speed, variable speed means for driving said feeding means, means for varying the speed of said feeding means, and a controller driven in synchronism with said shear arranged to beresponsive to said web for controlling and varying the operation of said speedvarying means before the first cut to thereby control the length of the latter.

3. In combination with a flying shear, means for driving said shear at a constant speed, means for feeding web to be severed into said shear, variable speed means for driving said feeding means, a web responsive controller arranged in the path of the web at a point spaced from said shear, means for driving said controller in synchronism with said shear, and means operated by said controller in response-to said web for modifying the operation of said feeding means apredetermined amount prior to the first cut produced by the shear to thereby control the length of the latter.

4. In combination with a flying shear, means for driving said shear at a uniform speed, means for feeding pieces of web to be severed into said shear, variable speed means for driving said feeding means, a controller mounted in the plane of said feeding means at a point spaced from said shear and disposed to be actuated by the front end of the web as it is delivered to the shear, means for driving said controller in synchronism with said shear, and means selectively controlled by said controller in response to the web for varying the operation of said Web feeding means prior to the first cut produced on the web by the shear.

5. In combination with a flying shear, a motor for driving said shear, a feed table arranged in front of said shear for delivering web thereinto, a variable speed motor for driving said feed table, a web responsive controller mounted in said feed table at a point spaced from said shear, a synchronous motor coupled to said controller, a synchronous generator operably couthe operation of said resistor arranged in the delivery path of the web to the shear and adapted to be operated by the web, and means for driving said controller in synchronism with said shear.

7. In combination with a flying shear, means for driving said shear at'a uniform speed, means adjacent said shear for feeding web into the shear at a uniform speed, other web-feeding means arranged in front of said first-mentioned means, variable speed means for driving said latter feeding means, means for varying the speed of said last-mentioned feeding means, and means responsive to both the web and the shear for controlling the operation of said speed-varying means. I

8. In combination with a flying shear, means for driving said shear, means for feeding web to be severed into the shear, a variable speed motor for driving said feeding means, a plurality of resistors connected in circuit relation with said motor for varying its speed, a rotatably mounted controller arranged to be engaged by the web delivered by said feeding means to said shear, means for driving said controller in synchronism with said shear, means in said controller adapted to selectively control the operation of said resistors in response to the web, and other means set in motion by the controller for rendering the controller inoperative.

9. In combination with a flying shear, means for driving said shear, means for feeding web to be severed into the shear, a variable speed motor for driving said feeding means, a plurality of resistors connected in circuit relation with said motor for varying its speed, a plurality of switches for independently controlling theoperation of said resistors, a controller for controlling said switches mounted in the path of the web and driven in synchronism with the shear, said controller comprising a drumlike roll, a plurality of pins mounted in uniformly spaced relation about the periphery .of said roll for ra- .dial reciprocation, a control element associated with each of said pins for operation thereby when said pins are moved into engagement with a piece of web, means for connecting said control elements in circuit relation with means for operating said switches, means for preventing more than one of said control elements operating to close more than one of said control elements each time a piece of web is passed by the controller, means for holding said" pins in their inner positions after engagement with the web until the web is past the controller, and time delay means for determining the period of operation of said switches.

10. A controller comprising a cylindrical roll provided with necks at its ends for rotating it about its axis, a plurality of radially reciprocable pins mounted in uniform spaced relation about the periphery of said roll, a plurality of latches pivotally mounted within said roll on an axially adjustable support, said latches being arranged opposite said pins and adapted to be engaged thereby when said pins are forced inwardly into said roll, means on said latches for engaging said roll when they are actuated by said pins. and moving said latch support to thereby carry the remaining latches out of range of the pins associated with them, means associated with said latches for completing a plurality of electrical circuits when they are actuated by said pins, means mounted on said roll necks for connecting said latch operable circuit making means within the circuits located outside of said roll, and magnetic means for holding said pins in their inner positions after they have been forced to such positions.

11. In combination with a flying shear, means for feeding web to be severed into said shear, means for varying the speed of said feeding means, means for controlling the operation of said speed-varying means, said latter meanscomprising a roll driven in synchronism with said shear mounted in the path of said shear, a plurality of pins mounted in uniform spaced relation about the periphery of said roll for radial reciprocation therein, a plurality of latches mounted in said roll for engagement and operation by said pins when forced inwardly toward the center of said roll by engagement with a piece of web, supporting means to which each of said latches is attached, means cooperating with said latches for rendering the other latches inoper able when one is forced inwardly by a piece of stock, means for holding all of said pins in their inner position when forced therein by a piece 01', web until the web is completely past the controller, and means for utilizing the operation of said latches for controlling the operation of said speed-varying means.

12. In combination with a flying shear, means for feeding web to be severed into said shear,

means for varying the speed of said feeding means and means for controlling the operation of said speed-varying means, comprising a carrier driven in synchronism with said shear and mounted in front of the shear to engage the web as it is delivered to the shear, a plurality oi elements mounted in spaced relation about said carrier to be actuated by engagement with the web, control means operablycoupled to said elements for controlling the operation of said speedvarying means, and means for rendering all of said elements except the first to engage the web inactive each time a piece of web is passed through the shear.

13. A web-responsive controller comprising a carrier adapted to be rotated about its major axis in contact with moving web, a plurality of radially movable elements mounted in spaced relation about said carrier to be actuated by the web, switching means mounted in said carrier for operation by said radially movable elements, and means for selectively controlling the operation of said switching means.

14. A web-responsive controller comprising a drum-like carrier adapted to be rotated in contact with a piece of web, a plurality of movable elements mounted in spaced relation about the periphery of said carrier to be actuated by en- 

